THE WORK
God's work in Arequipa, Peru
Location
Arequipa
Arequipa (Spanish pronunciation: [aɾeˈkipa]; Aymara and Quechua: Ariqipa) is a city and capital of province and the eponymous department of Peru. It is the second most populated city in Peru, after Lima, with an urban population of almost 2,000,000 inhabitants.
The city was founded on 15 August 1540, under the name of “Beautiful Villa of Our Lady of the Assumption” in the name of Marquis Francisco Pizarro. On 22 September 1541, the monarch Carlos V ordered that it should be called the “City of Arequipa”. During the viceregal period, it acquired importance for its outstanding economic role, and is characterized by the fidelismo towards the Spanish Crown, which honored Arequipa with titles such as “Very Noble and Very Loyal.” In the Republican history of Peru, the city has been the focus of popular, civic and democratic rebellions. It has also been the cradle of notable intellectual, political and religious figures. In the Republican era, it was awarded the title of “Heroic city of the free people of Arequipa”.
Arequipa is mainly Catholic and there is a great need for the true gospel to be preached.
Our Ministry in Arequipa
When we first arrived to Arequipa, I was pastoring the Family Baptist Church and started having Bible studies in different place. A year ago, we started a new mission work “Berea Baptist Church.” There have been many setbacks because of Covid and the ever-changing government restrictions. For several months, we were not even allowed to have in-person services, but were only able to “meet” over zoom.
Originally this work started as a Bible study over 2 years ago in the house of Mr. Basilio, an 85-year-old man who was a staunch Catholic. We were meeting in his house every Friday evening and several of his children, grandchildren, and neighbors would come to hear God’s Word. It was an incredible opportunity! After each Bible study, however, Mr. Basilio would argue and become upset about what he had heard, because it contradicted everything he had been taught all of his life. He always had questions and arguments. The Lord was working on his hard heart and one day he finally surrendered and let go of his beliefs, and trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone as his sufficient Savior. What a victory and answer to prayer! Brother Basilio then asked if he could be baptized, but asked if we would be willing to travel for 3 hours so that he could be baptized in his hometown of Yanque. He explained that everyone in his town knew him as a die-hard Catholic, and he wanted to make a public declaration to everyone he knew that he was a different man and that Christ had saved him. What a testimony of God’s grace!
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.